5 Jun 2007 POMega5™ captures the miracle of the pomegranate in the first line of skin treatments and nutritional supplements made with organic, ultra-premium, extra-virgin cold-pressed pomegranate seed oil, the most potent part of the pomegranate ...popgloss's all Wists - http://www.wists.com/popgloss/all

The benefits of pomegranate juice have been getting a lot of press in recent years, and the extract in power form of this juice has been finding its way into many new skin care products. Less well known, but perhaps even more significant, are the benefits of pomegranate seed oil, a key ingredient in Omega 5 skin treatment products.

Similar to pomegranate juice and extract, the oil from the seeds of the pomegranate provides a powerful anti-oxidant benefit, fighting free radicals that damage and age the skin. But pomegranate oil is also a potent source of punicic acid, an Omega 5 conjugated fatty acid, beneficial phytoestrogen and a rare plant based source of CLA.

A new study from the University of Michigan Medical School, published in the February 2006 Journal of Ethnopharmacology, shows that pomegranate seed oil stimulates keratinocyte proliferation, promoting regeneration of the epidermis. This study joins a growing body of research supporting the benefits of pomegranate seed oil as a skin treatment, including a 2003 South Dakota State University study published in the Journal of Medicinal Food that showed that a topical application of pomegranate seed oil significantly decreased the incidence of skin cancer in mice that had been exposed to cancer causing chemicals.

The “From Nature with love” web site summaries the benefit of the Omega 5 oil as follows:

“Pomegranate seed oil is gaining increased recognition by cosmeceutical manufacturers and the spa and aromatherapy industries due to its remarkable ability to nourish, moisturize and improve skin elasticity. Pomegranate seed oil is high in lipids including pucinic acid. Pomegranate seed oil can be effective in treating dry skin, eczema, psoriasis and sunburned skin. It is a good choice for inclusion in formulations for maturing skin. Its high polyphenol content makes it a strong anti-oxidant and adds to its stable shelf life. Pomegranate seed oil contains conjugated fatty acids which gives it strong anti-inflammatory properties and makes it a highly beneficial addition to formulations intended to reduce swelling and ease musclular aches and pains. Studies have shown that pomegranate oil is effective at killing cancer cells when applied topically.”

Le Magazine in 2005 added that: “a variety of recent studies have demonstrated that pomegranate, in various forms, can be included as part of a healthy lifestyle with no risk of toxic reactions. A Cuban study, for example, found that two doses of pomegranate extract (0.4 and 1.2 mg per kilogram of body weight, respectively) given to rats produced no toxic effects in terms of food intake, weight gain, or behavioral or biochemical factors.

Another study took these results further, examining still higher doses of pomegranate extract administered orally to rats for 37 days. No significant differences in toxicity were found in the treated rats in any of the blood parameters analyzed, a finding corroborated by analyses of both the liver and kidney.

Until recently, adding the benefits of pomegranate to the diet has presented something of a challenge. The fruit itself is messy and rather difficult to prepare due to its large number of seeds.”

Encapsulated or powdered forms of pomegranate extract are becoming much more widely available, making it easier to control the daily dosage.

I have a personal preference for the Omega 5 oil as opposed to the extract due to the many superior benefits of the oil.

A great review of the Pomega5 line can be found at: http://naturallydahling.com/wordpress/. This blogger tried the products and highly recommended then, yet the price might be prohibitive for teenagers.

There are various skin care products flooding the markets all over the world today. Such skin care products have basically two categories known as organic skin care and chemical based skin care products. Both have different structures but are meant for the similar purposes. It is essential know something about both of these products before initiating or opting for its use.The products of organic skin care are especially those products that help in treating the aging skin problems caused by the progressing age in the human beings that include cracked skin, dry skin, blemishes, as well as wrinkles occurring on the skin. These products are also believed to be effective in treating breakouts, acne, sun damage, sun burn and psoriasis on the skin. When concerned with any organic skin care products, one could easily try the soft nourishing cream applied after shaving which helps getting rid of from the itching tendency and blemishes resulting after shaving the beard. Such organic creams have the organic vegetable oils, certain organic herbal extracts along with the clean water as its active ingredients.The organic herbal extracts comprise of pomegranate seed oil, white or green tea, Rose Hips oils, South African Rooibos, calendula, soy oil and many more such extracts. The skin organic products are also said to have several anti-oxidants and anti-aging vitamins that provide its user the younger looking of skin besides unblemished skin. The products having the minimal quantum of synthetic ingredients provide optimal advantages to the skin in the longer run. Even organic shaving gels, shaving soaps and moisturizers are of great help for making the skin gleaming and healthy. One of the best things about such organic products are totally natural having absolutely no additives, chemical based or any synthetic aromatics added to them. The organic shaving appeases quite well by providing with smell of lime oil and clay sage that prevents the skin from getting dried. Chemical based skin care products on the other hand are also known as the chemical shaving products. The chemical based hair removing creams also called the depilatory creams which are openly available in the market are mostly made by using chemicals meant for eliminating unwanted hair from the different body parts like legs, underarms or beard etc. Such creams widely contain alkaline chemicals that are meant for dissolving protein structure present in the hair. This process helps separating hair from the skin and could be easily removed. The frequent or regular use of such chemicals could end up in several skin complications particularly in the people with sensitive or irritating skin conditions. Amongst the most common side effects of such chemicals include skin irritations and acne. Only those people who have healthy skin texture which could resist such chemical implications are of course benefited with these products.Also it is said that the chemical based products provides closer and smoother shave removing the unwanted hair for an extended period of time. When such products are applied on the beard just once, it is effective for the rest of the entire week. Chemical products are ruthless to apply and thus be not easily suggested since they can develop serious skin complications.

Monday, July 30, 2007

Omega 5 oil that is derived from the seeds of pomegranates [usually via cold press which is the preferred method, so I understand] is a very powerful antioxidant which fights against free radicals damage. This oil has been used so far as a stand alone ingredient for topical or oral applications, or in conjunction with other ingredients such as olive oil [omega 9], or fish oil [omega 3] or vitamin E.

A recently introduced nutraceutical claims that the Omega 5 oil might interact favorably with algae [a form of marine vegetable] to create a formula which can help support the management of body fat by increasing the metabolic rate. The mix of Omega 5 and algae is supported by a clinical study that has yet to be released.

Seaweeds are an important source of food, especially in Asia; They are excellent sources of many vitamins including: A, B1, B2, B6, niacin and C. They are rich in iodine, potassium, iron, magnesium and calcium.[24]Algae is commercially cultivated as a nutritional supplement. One of the most popular microalgal species is Spirulina (Arthrospira platensis), which is a Cyanobacteria (known as blue-green algae), and has been hailed by some as a superfood.[13] Other algal species cultivated for their nutritional value include; Chlorella (a green algae), and Dunaliella (Dunaliella salina), which is high in beta-carotene and is used in vitamin C supplements.In China at least 70 species of algae are eaten as is the Chinese "vegetable" known as fat choy (which is actually a cyanobacterium). Roughly 20 species of algae are used in everyday cooking in Japan.[24]Certain species are edible; the best known, especially in Ireland is Palmaria palmata (Linnaeus) O. Kuntze (Rhodymenia palmata (Linnaeus) Kuntze, common name: dulse).[14] This is a red alga which is dried and may be bought in the shops in Ireland. It is eaten raw, fresh or dried, or cooked like spinach. Similarly, Durvillaea antarctica [15] is eaten in Chile, common name: cochayuyo. [16]

Porphyra (common name: purple laver), is also collected and used in a variety of ways (e.g. "laver bread" in the British Isles). In Ireland it is collected and made into a jelly by stewing or boiling. Preparation also involves frying with fat or converting to a pinkish jelly by heating the fronds in a saucepan with a little water and beating with a fork. It is also collected and used by people parts of Asia, specifically China and Japan as nori and along most of the coast from California to British Columbia. The Hawaiians and the Maoris of New Zealand also use it.

One particular use is in "instant" puddings, sauces and creams. Ulva lactuca (common name: sea lettuce), is used locally in Scotland where it is added to soups or used in salads. Alaria esculenta (common name: dabberlocks), is used either fresh or cooked, in Greenland, Iceland, Scotland and Ireland.

The oil from some algae have high levels of unsaturated fatty acids. Arachidonic acid (a polyunsaturated fatty acid), is very high in Parietochloris incisa, (a green alga) where it reaches up to 47% of the triglyceride pool (Bigogno C et al. Phytochemistry 2002, 60, 497). [17][18]

Is this yet another brilliant use of Omega 5 oil or another diet system on the market? It is too early to tell but one must entertain a certain regime to achieve the desired results.

The Omega 5 oil can be purchased in selected nature stores in the USA. Make sure you ask for the pomegranate seed oil not the juice or powder extract. The juice or powder do not contain Omega 5.

Pomegranate seed oil is one of the only plant sources of conjugated fatty acids and contains an exceptional amount of punicic acid, a compound closely related to conjugated linoleic acid (CLA).

Recent scientific studies have shown that the potent therapeutic and preventive properties of CLA may help the body fight against human cancers, obesity, diabetes, and heart disease.

Punicic acid, abundant in pomegranate seed oil, has been called by a seller of pomegranate seed oil as a "super CLA", whose effect is even more potent than ordinary CLA. Wikipedia defines punicic acid as:" Punicic acid (also called trichosanic acid) is a polyunsaturated fatty acid, 18:3 (n-5). It is named for the pomegranate, (Punicagranatum), and is obtained from pomegranate seed oil. It is also found in the seed oils of snake gourd and bitter gourd.[1]

My husband, Joe is a user of omega 5 oil that is derived from the seeds of pomegranates, mostly to maintain prostate health but we are aware that it has other benefits that are published on the net. After the age of 40 there are certain parts of the male body which require some boosting.

Recently, I have been advised by a colleague that the Omega 5 oil might have additional "side effects", if you believe the following story about ED testing.

Erectile dysfunction (ED) is estimated to affect one in 10 men worldwide and 10 to 30 million men in the United States alone. The disorder can be caused by several factors, including arterial plaque, high blood pressure, heart disease, diabetes, nerve damage, endocrine imbalance or depression. Ultimately, ED is a condition that affects the blood flow to the penis during sexual stimulation.

The International Journal of Impotence Research, reported in early July 2007 that researchers from the Male Clinic, Beverly Hills, and University of California, Los Angeles tested the effects of pomegranate juice as a strong antioxidant on male subjects.

The researchers assigned 53 male subjects to two 4-week intervention periods separated by a two-week washout. Subjects were assigned to receive either a daily pomegranate juice, or a placebo beverage. Measures of erectile performance were obtained using International Index of Erectile Function (IIEF) and Global Assessment Questionnaires (GAQ). Mild ED is defined as the mildly decreased ability to get and keep an erection, while moderate ED is the moderately decreased ability to get and keep an erection. The majority of men with ED have moderate ED. At the end of the study, 47 per cent of the men reported improvements after consuming the pomegranate juice, while only 32 per cent reported improvements during the placebo-phase.

While the results were not conclusive, researchers believe that the positive outcome might be due to the potent antioxidant content of pomegranate juice, which can prevent free radical molecules from disrupting proper circulatory function.

Now, there is data on the net to the effect that the pomegranate seed oil might be a stronger antioxidant than the juice, see: http://cat.inist.fr/?aModele=afficheN&cpsidt=1879108Query:Could omega 5 oil result in a better fix to ED than the pomegranate juice? I, for one, will ask Joe to try it over a period of 30 days to see whether it works. There are several companies selling omega 5 oil on the Internet and one can also purchase the oil at Wholefoods in Marin County, just ask for pomegranate seed oil. Make sure that you get the oil not the extract which is simply powder. Enjoy.